Portable building or structure



C. F. AND D. E. McAVOY.

PORTABLE BUILDING 0R STRUCTURE,

APPUCATION man N0v,14.1917.

1,397,975- Pana Nov. im

4 SHEETS-SHEEY l.

FIG l C. F. AND D. E. MCAVOY.

PORTABLE BUILDING. 0R STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOVl I4. 1917.

Patentedv Nov. 22, l1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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c. F. AND D, E. MCAVOY. PORTABLE BUILDING 0R STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4. |917. 1,397,975; Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

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' city and UNITED sra'riss ILALIENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK MCAVOY, OFBROOKLYN, AND DANIEL EDWARD NEW YORK, N'. Y.`

MCAVOY, 0F

PORTABLE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE.

Application led November 14, 1917. Serial No. 202,041.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES F Mci-Hor, a citizen of the United States, residing 1n the borou h of Brooklyn, county of lungs,

tate of New York, and DANIEL E. McAvoY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Queens, county of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Portable Building or Structure.

This invention relates to the constructlon of buildings through the use of a suitable number of identical or closely similar units in the form of hollow framed panels, to be constructed at a factory or factories, shipped to, and assembled wherever desired, and designed to be of a more substantial or lasting character than the ordinary portable or knock-down buildings.

Prominent features of the invention are the utilization of the unit system, which conduces to cheapness through quantity production and permits of the erection of buildings of any desired dimensions and arrangement; the employment of tie-rods passing through successive units of each wall and.

of the roof; a sectional construction of such tie-rods whereby each unit may be equipped with its individual sections and conveniently stored or shipped so equipped; the provision of tubular dowels projecting into proximate units and serving to effect and maintain proper alinement of the units; the provision of springs or other elastic devices and means for varying their compression, said springs beingarranged to applypressure to the individual units of the structure during and after erection, and to compensate for expansion and contraction of the units; packing strips to be introduced between the various units to insure air and weathertight joints; and a novel manner of conf structing and assembling the roof and floor members. In practice we contemplate the employment of units made up of rectangular woodenV frames of suitable proportions and dimensions, covered on both faces with sheet metal,

' preferably galvanized sheet iron, the inteif desired, with suitable material of a nonconducting nature toprevcnt transmission of heat and cold. We may, however, make rior open spaces of the frames being filled,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Vare erected, and for this purpose we wall units 8 and 9 of IdentIcal outside meas- Patented Nov. 22. 1921 the units of any suitable material as, for instance, cement concrete, reinforced in any usual or approved way, metal tubing being employed at those points where the tie-rods are to pass through the units.

The invention further consists in other details which will be pointed out hereinafter.

The novel structure is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an end elevation of a building embodying our invention;

Fig. 2, a side elevation Fig. 3 a horizontal sectional view taken through a corner of the structurefand designed to illustrate the meeting of an end and side wall and corner-post;

Fig. 4, a horizontal section through the meeting edges of two units, showing one of the tubular doivels and the tie-rod; t

Fig. 5, a similar section illustrating the manner of building up the sectional tie-rod and applying the springs through which pressure is applied to individual units;

F ig. 6, a transverse sectional view the ridge-piece and theproximate' roof units, illustrating the manner of tying these parts together; v

of the same Fig. 6, a. plan view of a section ofthe yoke by which the proximate ,edges of the roof are tied together;

Fig. 7, a vertical sectional view showin the manner of tying the roof to the walls;

Fig. 8, a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of tying thaf'fioor to the side walls; I

Fig. 9, a transverse sectional view illustrating one form of joint for proximate units, including the special packing strip employed.

Preparatory to the erection of a building in accordance with our invention, a, suitable base or foundation of any usual description, as stone, cement, or wooden sills, will be provided; but where conditions are suitable andproper drainage is afforded, it will be suicient simply to level the surface of the ground and rest the walls directly thereon. This done, the side and end walls l and 2 employ urements and of like construction except that only the upper and lower elements 6 and T are employed for the units 9. In

other Words, openings'are left between the upper and lower elements of said units 9, oi' proper dimensions 'for doorways and Windows, where such are needed. (See Figs; l (and 2.) y

As stated, the units Vconsist preferably oi rectangular Wooden trames covered on both Y faces with sheet metal, secured tothe trames in any convenient or usual way, the frames heingl stayed or braced by struts or cross pieces1 according to the character or class of building contemplated and the strength required. This of course will vary arr-,ordn ing to the climatic conditionsol different localities, heavier construction being required Where the snowfall is considerable than in regions Where snow is unknown or rare. No claim is made to any specific construction of the frames', nor do We limit ourselvesin this regard.

By making the units of like outside (linien- Sions and adopting proportions and Ineasurements with due regard to the inside dimensions of freight cars, it isfpossihle to utilize to the fullest extent the available space in such cars, and to econoinize storage space where the units are to he stored in large quantities. This isan item of practical importance. The units being` of relatively small dimensions, particularly as te Width, permit the utilization of material for which few uses exist, and which may hence loe obtained at low cost, thus keeping down the expense of production. 1We conteniplate,ho\vever, making' the units, in sonic cases, of solid boards Where these vare readily obtainable, or of ceinent concrete where lumber is scarce and materials for such concrete are plentiful.

Each unit is formed or provided with transverse openings 12 extending troni edge to edge, through which to passtierods 11 for binding together in common plane the units constituting a wall, root, or ioor. These openings 12 are, 'under our preferred construction, enlarged at each end to receive tubulardowels 13 of metal, which serve to secure and maintain perfect alinement ci the assembled units, and also to receive springs 1-i-"which b v proper adjustments ot nuts 16 employed to connect the sections of the t1e-rods ll, press each unit edge-Wise against lthe one previously erected, or against an interposed packing strip :21 of telt, rubber, or

other usualpaclsing material. The use ot' the springs advantageous in that each unit inturn is placed under edgawise pressure or compression, and madev to seat closely against the preceding section or the packing strip applied thereto,and a more perfect end uniform application of pressure to the severa-l units is eilectecl than is practicable l,through the use of continuousvor integral tie-rods extending through the entire series of units of a wall, roof, or floor, and admit- :esonera ting of tightening onlyv after the several" the tubular doWels 13, the latter are prof vided With inturned Vshoulders l5 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; or in other words, they are termed with an end closure having,r a central perforation or opening` of proper diameter to permit the free passage ot the tie-rod sections.

In practice We prefer to erect these units one after another on the base or foundation, hut Where the Wall is relatively short. the units may be assembled flat upon the gg iunrl or other level support, and afterward rinsed to position on said hase or foundation. 'Where door or Window openings we tc he provided, units 9 {ll`igs i and e ein ployed, comprising only the upper anfllower elements of units 8, with ory withoutccntinuons vcrticalstiles from top to hot-toni, the lower sections 'E' being oi greater or li measurement in the direction. o i the heig of the walh'a-s required,

After the Walls 1 and 2 are erected on the- 11 at that point, suilicient 'to enable the tie# rods of meeting Wall sections to pass each` other as they could not otherwise do i.L each series of openings 1Q ot' the severa- Walls were in common horizontal plane. drawings we have indica-ted three tiesreds` for each Wall, these heingarranged near the upper and lower extremities ot the units and at or near the midlength thereof, and. such` We lind a convenient number, hut .incre or Vfewer may loe employed according; to the di Inensions of the units and the character and purpose ot the structure. `j i The corner-posts Sars provided on their outer faces with countersunlr washers or through which the tie 'f hearing plates 12', rods 'll pass. Nuts 18 applied to the proP trading threaded extremities of the tie-rods and bearing against the plates or washers' i7, permit the iinal compression to he applied to the assembled unitso the respective esilaranti hind ortie-.together said walls inl a very tirin and vrigid structure,the oints ot .which are madepecfectly Weathentight `through the interposed packing strips 2l `'whichy are subjected to the -tinal compression produced yley `the nuts loana 1S and the springs 14. In practice we: ii'ndit expedient to bindthe edges of the packing strips 21 with thin U-shaped strips 23 of sheet instal,

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better to protect their edges against the efects et the weather, to prevent. disintegration or traying out, and to give a neat finish to the iints in the completed structure.

In sane cases we contemplate making the opposed edges of proximate units in the form shown in-Fig. 9, that is to say, with a swell 23A and depression 23n extending lengthwise through the medial portion of the unit edges, so that theinterposed packing 21 shall be "-t into the form seen in said figure, and thereby more effectually held against displacement and caused to make a more perfect :sealing of the joints. As each unit will have the convex rib and the concave depression on opposite edges, it will be seen that construction will not in any manner interfere with the use of identical units throughout'.

The floor is composed of units 10 and is constructed in essentially' the same manner asthe walls, but may or may not be provided with the packing strips 21 or t-he springs 14, as found expedient. The tie-rods will, however, be employed to bind together and support the Hoor units. These will be run transversely of the floor units 10 and carried through the vertical walls of the structure, their ends being anchored in the saine manner as in the ease of the tie-rods 11, and illustrated in Fig. 3. The anchorages are indicated the numerals 19 and 2O in Figs. 1 and 2. The washers or bearing plates 17 are, however, in such case, applied to the wall units in the same manner as they are applied to the corner-posts in said figure. Ordinarily the floor units will be arranged with theirlength in the direction of the. length of the building, and the tie-rods will hence run in the direction of the width of the building, or transversely thereof. This of course is not essential, but whichever way they are run the outermost tie-rods 11 of the series are threaded through eye-bolts 26 of sutiicient length to project beyond the boundaries ot' the floor and to extend through the proximate walls ot the structure, where they pass through bearing plates or countersunk washers 17, and receive tightening bolts l8r as shown in Fig. 8. By this construction the Hoor is carried by the tie-rods and the eyebolts 2G. lYhere the fioor is of considerable dimensions it may be found expedient to place piers or supports beneath it at suitable points.

The construct-ion of the roof is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 6a, and 7. The root comprises a ridge-piece or member 4 and two main sections 5 composed of units in all respects the same as the wall units, and of like size except that the extreme end sections 5a are or may beot greater width than the other sections.fto produce t-he overhang of the gables. This may, however, be secured through additional and narrower units. The roof sections hear at their inner edges against the ridgepiece 4, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6. This ridge-piece is oi substantially V-form in cross section with overhanging longitudinal upper portions. the sides of the V being inclined to lie parallel with the edges of the two main root sections. packing strips 21 being interposed between the ridge piece and the rootI sections. To tie together the several elements of the rootl we provide at suitable intervals long bolts 24, which pass downward through the medial line of the ridge-piece 4, and through a series of yokes 25 having upturned ends which enter recesses in the roof units, and are hung upon tie-rods 11 thereof as shown in Fig. 6. The bolts 2-1 pass through suitable perforations in the yokes 25, one in each yoke, and are provided at their lower threaded ends each with a nut. It' desired a strong coiled spring 14A may be interposed between each nut and yoke so as to apply a constant but elastic pressure tending to press toward each other the roof sections and the ridge member 4, and to compress between them the packing strips 21. This atfords a very firm and rigid connection of the parts and insures Weathertight joints.

The lower or eave portions of the root extend outward .more or less beyond the side walls', and rest upon packing strips 21 lying upon the upper edffe or surface of said walls, as seen in Fig. 4. Sectional eyebolts or turnlnickles 22, each comprising two members respectively threaded right and left and coupled by long nuts or sleeves 22A, extend into recesses in the ioof and wall sections. and are threaded upon the tie-rods 11 ot' said sections. By turning the sleeve 0r nut the sectional eye-bolt or turnbuckle can be tightened or loosened as required. As also represented in Fig. 7, the nut or sleeve 22"i of each turnbuckle or sectional eye-bolt 22 has a radial flange at its lower end to bear upon and compress a strong spring'14;B contained in a metal cup or socket 27 seated in the upper end ol the wall section. This construction causes the springs to offer a yielding support for the root tending to relieve the, tie-rods 11 of the wall from undue load, and leaving its sections free to be turned in assembliiig the walls, or permit the entire tie-rod to move in applying the final compression to the wall elements. It likewise tends to prevent undue compression of the packing 21 between the roof sections and the walls.

In F ig. 1 sectional eye-bolts 22 are indcated as extending from several tie-rods 11 of the root` sections to. tie-rods of the end walls. and such may be the actual construction it desired. However. this will not ordi-A narily he necessary, particularly as gable units 28 are employed to fill the space between the end walls formed of the units 8 'und 97 and the root, seid fables etlording A'tirin v'snp port for seid root additional to that given by the sidewalis.

lln Figs. 1 and 2 We have indicated tierods and enchoreges extending transversely iol: the structure neer the upper line of the main Walls.l These may be employed if desired better to guard lagainst spreading ot the Wellsunder pressure, of the roof. It

Vneed they may suport a ceiling of the same construction es t e floor, but this will be used or notas preferredin any particular instance Ey the edoption ol the unit system both the original construction of the units and tor use both .in wurm and in cold climates.`

lite closeness ot the ,ioints precludes entrence et eir through there, and vwith.l proper cere to the fitting; of the window sash and the doors9 the buildings are truand to answer ed ,mirably even in severe weather in northern 'ietit'urles @ross Wells or partitions muy be intron Wherever desired, end lisor lateral nsions may be constructed, giving to the such space and arrangement of i red. l

liavebeen ti'itnsliered to and claimed in our` uppilcat "u .Srlei el bio. Wim/0, filed Janu ary 9, with and th., claims herein are hence in, itl uppliee: t; gung thus tusscribedour invention what we claim is: 1

Lilli a iol-table or knock-down buildin?" 1. "w iii-'fill cornnosed.- or a marrant" et units er- L iv merged in edgewise relation; e tubular teatri res of this application' ionincd to cert in "features not disclosed;

ineen-ere dcwel extending across the meeting line ot. -each palr of adgacent units, each doWel seated in shouldered recesses in saidv units and having at one end en internal flange or shoulder; a spring located within each dowel and restino at one end upon the flange or shoulder tliereot; sectional tie-rods extending through proximate well units; and connecting sleeves or nuts uniting said tie-rod sections, each sleeve or nut bearing at one end against -its associated spring, whereby edgewise pressure is applied independently to euch Wall unit in succession.

2. A building having a `Wallcemposed of a series of like units arranged in common plane with their longitudinal edges opposed; tubular dowels extending across the joints between the several units and serving' to hold the same in alinement, seid do-Wes being provided at one lend with en internal flange or shoulder; springs Within the tubular dowels and bearing at one end against the inturned flange or shoulder; sectional tierodspassingl through the units7 (lowels and springs from end to end of the Well; threaded sleeves orknuts connecting the secv tions of the tie-rods, each bearing' ut one end against one of the springs; and nuts applied to the ends of the tie-rods and serving; to tie together the several units of. the wall7 and to apply a final compression thereto additional to that afforded by the springs and coupling sleeves or nuts.

3. 1n combination with Wall and roof units of a portable or knock-down building, and with horizontal tie-rods extending through said wall and root' units; an internally flanged metal cup or socket seated in the upper end of e Wall unit; a spring placed Within said socket and restingr et one end upor4 theint'erna-l flange; sectional eye-bolts K threaded upon the longitudinal tie-rods. one

of'said sectlons passing through the spring; and en mternally threaded sleeve or nut con meeting the proximate ends .of the elincd eye-bolt sections vand resting upon seid spring'.

CHARLES FREDERIK MCAVOY. DANIEL EDWARD MCAVOY. 

